Multipurpose camping container

ABSTRACT

Described is a multipurpose camping container. In certain embodiments, the container is capable of being filled with either “stuff” or fluid. The container is collapsible such that its size may be reduced in accordance with the volume of the contents of the container. The container further includes a pump for the purpose of expelling contents of the container. The container may optionally include a filter for filtering any fluid being expelled.

BACKGROUND

Camping is a favorite pastime for many individuals. When camping, generally, one or more people carry their gear in to a campsite. Often, the more remote the campsite, the more enjoyable the camping experience. However, very remote campsites pose a logistical problem. The campers must pack in all the gear that they will use during their camping adventure. So if the trip involves fishing or hunting, each camper must pack in all his own fishing or hunting gear, in addition to whatever other gear will be needed during the camp, such as additional clothing, cooking utensils, sleeping gear, and the like.

The physical abilities of the campers limits the total amount of gear that can be reasonably carried in to the campsite. For that reason, campers frequently have to make compromises on what gear they can carry. Campers are often forced to leave behind some gear that they just don't have room or endurance to carry. For this reason, there is an ever present desire for smaller and lighter camping equipment.

SUMMARY

Briefly described, the invention is directed to a multipurpose camping container. In certain embodiments, the container is capable of being filled with either “stuff” or fluid. The container is collapsible such that its size may be reduced in accordance with the volume of the contents of the container. The container further includes a pump for the purpose of expelling contents of the container.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The foregoing and other features of the present disclosure will become more fully apparent from the following description and appended claims, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. Understanding that these drawings depict only several embodiments in accordance with the disclosure and are, therefore, not to be considered limiting of its scope, the disclosure will be described with additional specificity and detail through the use of the accompanying drawings.

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of one implementation of a multipurpose camping container in an expanded condition.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of one implementation of a multipurpose camping container in a collapsed condition.

FIG. 3 is a side view of one implementation of a multipurpose camping container containing equipment.

FIG. 4 is a side view of one implementation of a multipurpose camping container containing equipment after the container has been collapsed.

FIG. 5 is a side view of one implementation of a multipurpose camping container containing a fluid.

FIG. 6 is a side view of one implementation of a multipurpose camping container expelling a fluid using an integral pump.

FIG. 7 is a functional block diagram of one implementation of a multipurpose camping container.

FIG. 8 is a functional block diagram illustrating a pump that may be used in various embodiments.

It should be noted that the embodiments illustrated in these figures are representative only, and are not exclusive of all the embodiments that may implement a multipurpose camping container.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS OF THE INVENTION

What follows is a detailed description of various embodiments of the invention. The embodiments described here are illustrative only, and are not exclusive of other embodiments. The particular embodiments described herein are only examples and their inclusion here should in no way be construed as limiting the scope of the invention. The invention is limited only by the appended claims, the terms of which are to be given their broadest possible meaning unless explicitly defined herein. In particular, no embodiment, implementation, or example provided in this detailed description is intended nor should it be construed as limiting any claim term by example unless explicitly so stated.

Briefly described, the invention is directed at a multipurpose camping container. In the disclosed embodiments, the multipurpose camping container is implemented as a collapsible container with a large, open mouth for inserting camping equipment or “stuff.” The container is configured with a pump that may be used to pump out the contents of the container if those contents are susceptible of being pumped. Certain specific embodiments will now be described with reference to the attached drawings.

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of one implementation of a multipurpose camping container 101 in an expanded condition. As shown in FIG. 1, the container 101 includes a hollow body 103, which is the main storage compartment of the container 101. The hollow body 103 is composed of a closed end 105 and an open end 107 connected by a collapsible accordion-style middle 109. In FIG. 1, the container 101 is illustrated in its expanded condition such that the accordion-style middle 109 is stretched, giving a large amount of room in the container 101 in which to store things.

The closed end 105 may be constructed integral with the middle 109 or may be attached in some permanent or semi-permanent manner. In this embodiment, the closed end 105 includes an integral pump 111, which may be used to pump out the contents of the hollow body 103. One specific implementation of the pump 111 is illustrated in FIG. 8 and described below. Briefly stated, the pump 111 is a mechanism used to pump out the contents of the container 101, or perhaps to pump something (e.g., a fluid such as water) into the container.

The open end 107, in this embodiment, is opposite the closed end 105. The open end 107 defines an aperture that allows access to the hollow body 103 of the container 101. Preferably, the open end 107 is surrounded by a threaded receiver 108 to which a threaded cap 113 can be attached. Alternatively, a snap-tite cap (not shown) could be used to seal the open end 107.

In this embodiment, the body 103 is constructed with accordion-style collapsible walls. In other embodiments, other collapsible constructions could be implemented without deviating from the spirit of the invention.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the multipurpose camping container 101, introduced above, in a collapsed condition. As shown, the container 101 is capable of being collapsed into a much smaller, compact size by virtue of the accordion style middle 109. When collapsed, the hollow body 103 is either empty, resulting in a minimum size of the container 101, or has been shrunk until it conforms to the contents of the container 101 such that the container 101 need be no larger than necessary to accommodate whatever is inside.

In one example, the container 101 may be collapsed by simply applying a force to either or both of the ends 105, 107. In this example, the container 101 should not be sealed airtight so that air can escape the container 101 during compression. There are many ways to accomplish this, such as by leaving the threaded cap 113 slightly loose.

In another example, the container 101 may be collapsed by activating pump 111 to pump out the contents of the container 101. In one example, a handle may be pushed/pulled (210) to activate a manual pump, causing the contents of the container 101 to be exhausted 212 out of the pump. Of course, other types of pumps may be used, such as a battery powered or electric pump for convenience. In this example, the container 101 should be put in an airtight or substantially airtight state, such as by tightening the threaded cap 107.

FIGS. 3 and 4 are side views of the multipurpose camping container 101. In these particular views, the container 101 is illustrated with a transparent hollow body 103 to show that the container 101 is filled with “stuff” 310. The transparency feature is for illustrative purposes only, and is not a necessary feature of the container 101. In this example, the “stuff” 310 is any non-fluid kit or items, such as clothing, toiletries, cooking utensils, food products, or the like.

In this example, by pumping 320 the handle of the pump 111 back and forth, air inside the container 101 is expelled out the pump as exhaust 325. In the case when the container 101 is sealed airtight or substantially airtight, this creates a vacuum within the hollow body 103, thus compressing the container 101 into a smaller size, convenient for packing. It will be apparent that the container 101 could be compressed initially by simply pressing the container 101 down, and then tightening the threaded cap 113. Then the pump 111 can be used to expel additional air from the container 101 and further reduce the size. FIG. 4 illustrates the container 111 in its collapsed state with the hollow body 103 somewhat conforming to the stuff 310 within the container 101. In this collapsed state, the container 101 can be more easily transported, such as to a campsite or the like.

FIGS. 5 and 6 are side views of the multipurpose camping container 101 containing a fluid 510. In this example, unlike the example illustrated in FIGS. 3 and 4, the container 101 is filled with a fluid 510 and not kit. This example illustrates the case where the container 101 is used as a fluid containing vessel, such as a water jug at a campsite. In this example, the container 101 is filled with the fluid 510 and is sealed at least liquid-tight to avoid (or minimize) leakage. As before, the container 101 includes the pump 111, which, in this example, is configured to pump out the contents of the container 101 in response to a manual force 520 being applied.

As illustrated in FIG. 6, when the pump 111 is activated (force 520), it pulls the fluid 510 from the hollow body 103 and exhausts it out of the container 101. In this example, the fluid 510 could be water, and the container 101 could be used to fill water glasses 610 at a campsite, for example. As the fluid 510 is being expelled from the container 101, the hollow body 103 compresses along the accordion-style middle 109 to offset the volume of fluid 510 being expelled. In this manner, the container 101 takes up less room as the fluid 501 is expelled.

In one enhancement, a filter 525 may be added along the path so that the fluid 525 can be filtered (e.g., purified) as it is being expelled. The filter 525 is shown external to the container 101 in FIG. 6, but it could alternatively be affixed within the container 101, such as inside the pump 111 or inside the hollow body 103, for example.

FIG. 7 is a functional block diagram illustrating the core components of one implementation of a multipurpose camping container 701. As shown, the container 701 includes at least a collapsible vessel 710 in which “stuff” or other things, e.g., fluid, may be stored. In addition, the container 710 includes at least a sealable opening 711 which allows access to the inside of the container 701.

The container 701 may also include a pump 713, which may be unidirectional. The pump 713 is operative to create a vacuum within the collapsible vessel 710. The pump 713 is further operative to expel the contents of the collapsible vessel out of the container 710. The pump 713 has an intake port 714 operatively coupled to the collapsible vessel 710, and an exhaust port 715 in operative contact with the exterior of the container 701 via an outlet 716. Optionally, a filter 717 may be added to the container 701 to filter fluid either as it is being drawn from the collapsible vessel 710, or as it is being expelled from the container 701.

It should be appreciated that FIG. 7 is a block diagram for the purpose of illustrating only the functional components of the container 701. The particular arrangement of the functional components is of no matter, as the particular arrangement of the functional components in FIG. 7 is for simplicity of illustration only, and is not intended to provide any guidance on how the several functional components may be configured when an implementation of the container 701 is actually constructed.

FIG. 8 is a functional block diagram illustrating one example of a pump 801 that may be used in various embodiments. In this particular example, the pump 801 is a unidirectional mechanical pump. The pump 801 includes a casing 810 that encases a vacuum chamber 812. At one end of the vacuum chamber 812 are an intake port 814 and an exhaust port 816. The intake port 814 includes an intake valve 815, and the exhaust port 816 includes an exhaust valve 817. At the other end of the vacuum chamber 812 is disposed a plunger 818 connected to a handle that projects out of the casing 810.

In operation, the handle 820 is pushed and pulled along the longitudinal axis of the pump casing 810, which causes the plunger 818 to move inside the casing 810. By moving within the casing 810, the plunger changes the dimensions of the vacuum chamber 812, which alternately creates a low pressure condition or a high pressure condition depending on whether the plunger 818 is increasing or decreasing the volume of the vacuum chamber 812. The low pressure condition causes the intake valve 815 to release and the exhaust valve 816 to close, thus drawing in air or fluid through the intake port 814 into the vacuum chamber 812. Alternatively, the high pressure condition causes the intake valve 815 to close and the exhaust valve 817 to release, thus expelling the contents of the vacuum chamber 812 out of the exhaust port 816.

It should be noted that many alternatives to the unidirectional, mechanical pump 801 described here. For example, in one alternative, a bidirectional pump could be used that includes two complementary pairs of intake and exhaust ports, one pair that intakes from the container and exhausts outside of the container, and another pair that intakes from outside the container and exhausts into the container. This would allow the multipurpose container to be used to pump either a fluid or gas (e.g., water or air) from outside the container into the container. In this way, the container could be filled with water using the pump, rather than being filled through a sealable opening, thus even possibly obviating such an opening.

In another alternative, an electromechanical pump could be used rather than a purely mechanical one. For example, a battery operated or electrically operated pump could be used for the sake of convenience.

In still another alternative, the hollow body itself could be particularly configured such that it embodies the pump. In such an alternative, the hollow body could be implemented with an exhaust port such that the hollow body could be compressed manually (e.g., by squeezing the container by hand), thus forcing the contents out of the exhaust port.

In still another alternative, a dual action pump could be used so that the fluid or gas could be expelled from the container more quickly.

The advantages of the disclosed multipurpose container are many, and should become apparent to those skilled in the art from the foregoing discussion. For instance, the multipurpose container may be used to pack in camping stuff while hiking in to a camp site, and as a water container while at the camp site.

While various embodiments have been disclosed herein, other aspects and embodiments will be apparent to those skilled in art. The various embodiments disclosed herein are for purposes of illustration and are not intended to be limiting, with the true scope and spirit being indicated by the following claims. 

1. A multipurpose camping container, comprising: a hollow body having a closed end, an open end, and a collapsible accordion-style middle, the accordion-style middle being operative to allow the hollow body to be compacted from an expanded size to a smaller, collapsed size, the open end providing sealable access inside the hollow body; and a pump operatively coupled to the hollow body and being configured to create a vacuum within the hollow body and to expel contents of the hollow body out of the multipurpose container, wherein the container is operative to contain camping stuff in one state, and to be sealed in the one state such that the pump may be used to reduce the size of the hollow body such that the hollow body substantially conforms to the size of the stuff within the container, the container being further operative to contain a fluid in another state, and to be sealed in the other state such that the pump may be used to expel the fluid from the hollow body.
 2. The multipurpose camping container recited in claim 1, wherein the pump is a unidirectional pump.
 3. The multipurpose camping container recited in claim 1, wherein the pump is a bidirectional pump.
 4. The multipurpose camping container recited in claim 1, wherein the pump is a mechanical pump.
 5. The multipurpose camping container recited in claim 1, wherein the pump is an electromechanical pump.
 6. The multipurpose camping container recited in claim 5, wherein the electromechanical pump is battery powered.
 7. The multipurpose camping container recited in claim 1, wherein the open end includes a threaded receiver and is sealable by use of a threaded cap coupled to the threaded receiver.
 8. The multipurpose camping container recited in claim 1, wherein the open end is sealable by use of a snap-tite cap.
 9. The multipurpose camping container recited in claim 1, further containing a filter to filter a fluid as it is expelled from the container.
 10. A multipurpose camping container, comprising: a hollow body having a closed end, an open end, and a collapsible accordion-style middle, the accordion-style middle being operative to allow the hollow body to be compacted from an expanded size to a smaller, collapsed size, the open end having a threaded receiver for accepting a threaded cap to seal the hollow body; a unidirectional, mechanical pump operatively coupled to the hollow body and being configured to create a vacuum within the hollow body and to expel contents of the hollow body out of the multipurpose container; and a filter to filter a fluid as it is expelled from the container, wherein the container is operative to contain camping stuff in one state, and to be sealed in the one state such that the pump may be used to reduce the size of the hollow body such that the hollow body substantially conforms to the size of the stuff within the container, the container being further operative to contain a fluid in another state, and to be sealed in the other state such that the pump may be used to expel the fluid from the hollow body. 